Sales tax holiday to begin on Friday

Items useful during bad weather to get tax break in Tuscaloosa, Northport and county

Justin Irvin, manager at Anders Hardware in Northport, straightens a shelf of batteries July 6, 2012. This weekend, Friday through Sunday, the state of Alabama is holding its second annual sales tax holiday for severe weather preparedness. Items such as batteries and flashlights will be included.

Michelle Lepianka Carter | Tuscaloosa News

By Patrick RupinskiBusiness Editor

Published: Thursday, February 21, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, February 20, 2013 at 11:10 p.m.

Alabama’s second severe weather preparedness sales tax holiday will be all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

During those three days, the state will waive its 4 percent sales tax on a limited number of products that it has listed as things people might need for weather-related emergencies. (A complete list of tax-exempt items is on Page 3B.)

Tuscaloosa, Northport and Tuscaloosa County also are participating in the sales tax holiday and will not charge local sales taxes on the selected items. The two cities each have a 2 percent sales tax, and the county has a 3 percent sales tax. That will result in a 9 percent savings on the tax-exempt items.

Several other cities, towns and counties in West Alabama also have advised the Alabama Department of Revenue that they are participating in the sales tax holiday.

In addition to Tuscaloosa County, Bibb, Fayette, Lamar and Marengo counties have waived their sales tax on the weather-related items, according the revenue department’s website. West Alabama municipalities listed as participating in the tax holiday are Berry, Brent, Centreville, Coker, Fayette, Greensboro, Linden, Livingston, Moundville and Sulligent.

Counties and municipalities have the option of participating in the state’s two annual sales tax holidays — the severe weather preparedness tax holiday and the back-to-school tax holiday that is held in the summer.

Birmingham, Bessemer and Jefferson County will not participate in this weekend’s tax holiday and will charge their local sales taxes on the storm-related supplies. Hoover, however, is participating and is waiving its city sales tax on the items.

The severe weather sales tax holiday serves to remind people of items they should have before the outbreak of the severe weather season — tornadoes which typically are most severe in Alabama in the spring and hurricanes, whose season runs through the summer and fall.

Items exempt from the sales tax this weekend include most batteries with the exception of batteries for vehicles and boats and coin batteries — the disc-like batteries used in watches and some small appliances. Also exempt are tarp-like covers, plywood, containers for storing food, portable generators and other items.

Alabama held its first Severe Weather Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday last year, partly in response to the April 27, 2011, tornado outbreak that swept across much of the state, claiming about 250 lives, including more than 50 fatalities in Tuscaloosa County.

<p>Alabama's second severe weather preparedness sales tax holiday will be all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday.</p><p>During those three days, the state will waive its 4 percent sales tax on a limited number of products that it has listed as things people might need for weather-related emergencies. (A complete list of tax-exempt items is on Page 3B.)</p><p>Tuscaloosa, Northport and Tuscaloosa County also are participating in the sales tax holiday and will not charge local sales taxes on the selected items. The two cities each have a 2 percent sales tax, and the county has a 3 percent sales tax. That will result in a 9 percent savings on the tax-exempt items.</p><p>Several other cities, towns and counties in West Alabama also have advised the Alabama Department of Revenue that they are participating in the sales tax holiday.</p><p>In addition to Tuscaloosa County, Bibb, Fayette, Lamar and Marengo counties have waived their sales tax on the weather-related items, according the revenue department's website. West Alabama municipalities listed as participating in the tax holiday are Berry, Brent, Centreville, Coker, Fayette, Greensboro, Linden, Livingston, Moundville and Sulligent.</p><p>Counties and municipalities have the option of participating in the state's two annual sales tax holidays — the severe weather preparedness tax holiday and the back-to-school tax holiday that is held in the summer. </p><p>Birmingham, Bessemer and Jefferson County will not participate in this weekend's tax holiday and will charge their local sales taxes on the storm-related supplies. Hoover, however, is participating and is waiving its city sales tax on the items.</p><p>The severe weather sales tax holiday serves to remind people of items they should have before the outbreak of the severe weather season — tornadoes which typically are most severe in Alabama in the spring and hurricanes, whose season runs through the summer and fall.</p><p>Items exempt from the sales tax this weekend include most batteries with the exception of batteries for vehicles and boats and coin batteries — the disc-like batteries used in watches and some small appliances. Also exempt are tarp-like covers, plywood, containers for storing food, portable generators and other items.</p><p>Alabama held its first Severe Weather Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday last year, partly in response to the April 27, 2011, tornado outbreak that swept across much of the state, claiming about 250 lives, including more than 50 fatalities in Tuscaloosa County.</p>